Chapter 19 A heavyweight who has the right to speak on the North Korean nuclear issue and the security issues in the Middle East and South Asia

In 2003, Xiong Guangkai had two major plays.First, he participated in the 39th Munich International Security Policy Conference on February 8. At the meeting, he made a speech titled "Current Global Anti-Terrorism Situation and Prospects", expounding on China's new security concept. The basic policy of anti-terrorism, emphasizing that the new security concept centered on "mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, and cooperation" is the guiding principle for the Chinese government to formulate anti-terrorism policies and carry out international anti-terrorism cooperation, which was highly praised by the participants; the second is on October 24, As one of the core figures in the high-level Chinese military delegation, he visited the United States with State Councilor and Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan.

After the aircraft collision incident in Hainan brought military exchanges between the two countries to a trough, the military exchanges between China and the United States began to heat up in 2002 when US Assistant Secretary of Defense Rodman led a delegation to visit China and Deputy Chief of General Staff General Xiong Guangkai visited the United States. In September 2003, two U.S. warships sailed into Zhanjiang Port, an important Chinese naval base. Almost at the same time as Cao Gangchuan set off to visit the U.S., at the invitation of the U.S. Navy, the "Shenzhen", which enjoys the reputation of "China's first ship in Shenzhou", was launched. The guided-missile destroyer and the comprehensive supply ship "Qinghai Lake" formed the naval fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and paid a four-day visit to Guam, the US military base in the Pacific Ocean. China-US military exchanges have shown a good momentum.Cao Gangchuan's trip to the United States further marks the official resumption of high-level contacts between the two militaries that were interrupted by China and the United States.

Because Cao Gangchuan is the first Chinese defense minister to visit the Pentagon in seven years since Chi Haotian visited the United States in December 1996, and Xiong Guangkai, a veteran military officer who is very mysterious and has dealt with Americans many times, "helped out." Therefore, Cao Gangchuan's trip has attracted a lot of attention at home and abroad. Cao Gangchuan and his party's visit to the United States was undoubtedly a success. They arrived in New York on October 24, visited West Point Military Academy the next day, and then visited Washington.The United States attaches great importance to the visit of the Chinese Defense Minister.Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz at the Pentagon, the two chief and deputy heads of the U.S. Department of Defense, have become much friendlier to China.Rumsfeld, who once ordered the cancellation of the U.S. Army’s contract to order military caps from Chinese manufacturers after the Sino-U.S. plane collision, personally welcomed and received Cao Gangchuan and Xiong Guangkai at the Pentagon; Ci also held a dinner for Chinese guests on the night Cao Gangchuan and his party arrived in Washington.It can be seen from the statements and news released by the two sides that the high-level military meeting between China and the United States was "positive, constructive and fruitful."China and the United States also disclosed that they agreed to arrange the visit schedule of the two military leaders in 2004. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Myers and Vice Chairman General Pace will visit China next year. Other leaders of the Chinese Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense They will also visit the United States one after another.

During Xiong Guangkai's visit to the United States with Minister Cao Gangchuan, the "Sino-US Relations: Past, Present and Future" seminar opened in Texas. On November 5, Vice President Xiong Guangkai attended the meeting. The symposium was initiated by former US President Bush and jointly organized by Texas A&M University, the Bush Presidential Library Foundation and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.Therefore, those who attended the meeting were all heavyweights in the political, military and diplomatic circles of China and the United States.For example, former Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Yang Jiechi, former U.S. President Bush, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State Baker, former U.S. National Security Advisor Scowcroft, and former U.S. Ambassador to China Prieher Monk Mujie, former U.S. Under Secretary of State Kanter and China expert Lampton, etc.

Xiong Guangkai made a speech at the meeting on China's concerns about regional security issues. Regarding security issues in Northeast Asia, Xiong Guangkai said: "China's fundamental starting point in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue is to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula. Our basic consideration is that North Korea abandons its nuclear program. At the same time, North Korea's reasonable security concerns should also be addressed." He expressed that China sincerely hopes that relevant parties will exercise restraint, avoid any unilateral measures that may lead to further escalation of the situation, and continue to actively work within the framework of Beijing's "Six-Party Talks" to explore a peaceful, comprehensive and just solution to the North Korean nuclear issue way.

When talking about security issues in the Middle East, Xiong Guangkai said that China is deeply disturbed and worried about the recent intensification of tensions between Palestine and Israel.China believes that "replacing violence with violence" will not help to solve the problem, and realizing "land for peace" through negotiations is the only effective way to resolve the Palestine-Israel conflict. When talking about security issues in South Asia, Xiong Guangkai said that Pakistan is a friendly country to China, and the relationship between China and India has also been greatly improved and developed in recent years. As a close neighbor in South Asia, China does not want to see India and Pakistan fighting each other. See.

The US military and political circles and the public, who are already familiar with Xiong Guangkai, once again appreciate the charm of this Chinese general.According to the secret documents of the U.S. Department of Defense Intelligence Agency declassified, the U.S. military described Xiong Guangkai as a "clear and flexible" senior PLA official.